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Best Cheap Speakers - New or Old

Sure if money is no object there are many speakers that we all "drool for". But having said that, there something to be said for a good "cheap" (less than $500 a pair MSRP) speakers. Granted they're not going to be in anybody's main system (probably they'll be found in somebody's bedroom, office, garage system, usually with some older vintage components driving them). But nevertheless, they deliver decent performance at a resonable price and they're honest in what they do. Not "state of the art" by a large margin, but still good "musical" friends. My choice is an old pair of Boston Acoustics A-60s, that I bought back in the late '80s for probably $200 a pair. Granted there are tons of better speakers out there, but for what they do, and age they are, and the money I paid, they still deliver some pretty damn good sound and performance. Anyway, curious on what others may think and what "cheap" speakers have held a "soft spot" in their "sonic" hearts?
cleaneduphippy
loomisjohnson
1,946 posts
 
great thread; lots of really good nominees. among the ones mentioned, the energy 22 are seriously great (the more modern energy c-3 are also really good). i'll suggest a couple of others:
kef coda 70 (extremely impressive for their size/price--they look and sound like a $1k monitor)
jbl hls 610 (a modest, mass-market piec which just happened to do everything right. you can find these used for $50 or so)
design acoustics ps6 (another unexpectedly great sounding, modestly priced speaker; really big dynamic range and soundstage)
ads 700/710
to bbro's point, i was also underwhelmed by the spica tc50.
chrshanl37
835 posts
 
ADS l710 to me were better than a pair of LSA statements.
ebm
9,311 posts
 
Radio Shack 101 series 2
joefish's avatar
joefish
66 posts
 
Acoustic Research AR 7 was the smallest, cheapest, and most amazing speaker that they ever made. I had them on top of a roomates out of commision much bigger Altec Lansing speakers. Everyone would always think the larger set was playing. Only when I would convince people to walk up to the speakers, would they realize that the AR's, and not the Altecs, were playing. Amazing sound from a 6" woofer and a 1" tweeter. I wish I still had them
audiolabyrinth's avatar
audiolabyrinth
4,555 posts
 
The JBL-L7 speakers from 1992, just take the stock Bi-amp plate off and insert some quality Bi-amp speaker cable jumpers, It is a Huge difference in sound quality jump, everything possible is much,much, better, or run extra speaker cables for bi-amping,The stock plate is terrible for sound!, cheers.
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